ATCAN DISPLAY Ltd.

Flying Facts and Links

We are pleased to present you with important Facts and Links relating to the Choice of Fabric for your flag and creating Custom flags for your home and business. The world of Flag Etiquette, especially for the Canadian Flag, is very interesting and we are pleased to present you with excerpts from the Heritage Canada site. The LINKs provided are for your reading pleasure.

Fabric of Choice

How to choose the fabric that best suits your needs?

70 Denier High Tenacity Nylon

This sturdy, lightweight fabric meets Government of Canada specifications and is the most popular of all flag fabrics in Canada. It is suitable for outdoor use, flies easily in the lightest breeze, and washes clean in the rain.

200 Denier Nylon

This is truly an "all-Weather" fabric. It has the same characteristics as the High Tenacity except it is approximately 3 times heavier.

Sewn/Marine Grade

Hand sewn 200 Denier Nylon. Sewn flags are either appliquéd or sewn with flat-felled seams. The Canadian flag is available in this fabric.

Poly knit

Knitted polyester/shiny Polyester. This looser weave fabric is very strong and withstands windy environments as well. This is a very cost-effective material. However because of the looser weave, poly knit is more transparent on sunny days.

Flag Etiquette in Canada

Flags are symbols that identify people belonging to a group. The National Flag of Canada and the flags of the provinces and territories are symbols of honour and pride for all Canadians. They should be treated with respect.

The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by any legislation but by established practice. The etiquette outlined herein is an adaptation of international usage and of customs the federal government has been observing for many years.

The rules applied by the federal government are in no way mandatory for individuals or organizations; they may serve as guidelines for all persons who wish to display the Canadian Flag and other flags in Canada.

Flag Care and Etiquette in Canada

Where possible, a flag should be taken down every night and in winds over 70 km/hr

Never store a wet or damp flag; spread it out until dry.

If slightly torn, a flag should be repaired at once. It could save the cost of a new flag.

When two or more than three flags are flown together, the Canadian flag should be flown on the left as seen by spectators. Whenever three flags are flown, the Canadian Flag should be flown in the middle.

When your flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner. Return any flag to Atcan Display for proper disposal.

The National Flag of Canada may be displayed as follows:

Flat against a surface, horizontally and vertically.

If hung horizontally, the upper part of the leaf should be up and the stem down. If hung vertically, the flag should be placed so that the upper part of the leaf is to the left and the stem is to the right as seen by spectators. Flags hung vertically should be hung so that the canton is in the upper left corner.

On a staff

The top left (first) quarter or canton should be placed in the position nearest the top of the staff. When carried, the flag should be aloft and free.

On a flag rope (halyard)

The canton should be placed uppermost, raised as closely as possible to the top with the flag rope tight.

Suspended vertically in the middle of a street

The upper part of the leaf should face the north in an east-west street, and face east in a north-south street, thus being on the left of the observer facing east or south respectively.

Projected from a building

Displayed horizontally or at an angle from a window or balcony, the canton must point outward.

Affixed on a motor vehicle

The flag must be on a pole firmly fixed to the chassis on the front right.

Sharing the same base

When only three flags are displayed, the National Flag should be at the centre. For those facing the display, the flag of the country being honoured or given prominence is placed to the left of centre, and the other to the right.

When used to cover a casket at funerals

The canton should be draped over the upper left corner of the casket. The flag should be removed before the casket is lowered into the grave or, at a crematorium, after the service. The flag size should be 4 1/2 X 9 feet (1.40 X 2.80m).

Half-masting for Mourning

Flags are flown at the half-mast position as a sign of mourning.

The flag is brought to the half-mast position by first raising it to the top of the mast then immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position.

The position of the flag when flying at half-mast will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagstaff. It must be lowered at least to a position recognizably "half-mast" to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the mast.

On occasions requiring that one flag be flown at half-mast, all flags flown together should also be flown at half-mast. Flags will only be half-masted on those flagpoles fitted with halyards and pulleys. Some buildings fly flags from horizontal or angled poles, without halyards, to which flags are permanently attached. Flags on these will not be half-masted.

LINKS - sites you can refer to for more information

The following links are provided as a service and are not endorsed by ATCAN DISPLAY. We include them for your information and hope you find them of interest. There is a wealth of information available relating to Flags, Flagpole and the various usage of these item.

Watch for more links being added and feel free to contact us if you would like us to include you in our references.